Objective

  The main aim of this prospective study was to explore the ability of the oral microbiome to produce acetaldehyde in ethanol incubation. Study Design A total of 90 patients [30 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) 30 oral lichenoid disease (OLD) 30 healthy controls (CO)] were enrolled in the study. Microbial samples were taken from the mucosa using a filter paper method. The density of microbial colonization was calculated and the spectrum analyzed. Microbial acetaldehyde production was measured by gas chromatography.

 Results

  The majority (68%) of cultures produced carcinogenic levels of acetaldehyde (>100μM) when incubated with ethanol (22mM). The mean acetaldehyde production by microbes cultured from smoker samples was significantly higher (213μM) than from non-smoker samples (141μM) (P=.0326).

 Conclusions

  The oral microbiota from OSCC, OLD patients and healthy individuals are able to produce carcinogenic levels of acetaldehyde. The present provisional study suggests smoking may increase the production of acetaldehyde.

 Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology

 Full Text